Some say party, others say spirit. But one thing Harrington Hall doesn’t lack is reputation.
And it didn’t take long for the house’s reputation to be called into question this year, after a fight broke out in a second floor lounge on Oct. 15. It was Harrington’s first house party of the year.
Former house president, Bobby Gaudet says Harrington’s reputation varies on who you talk to, but past and present “Raiders” know the house best.
“If you ask someone who’s never lived in Harrington and someone who has been part of the Harrington community, their views on the reputation are very different.”
Bea Grigsby is a Harrington Raider and said the residence doesn’t always have a positive image within the St. Thomas University community.
“I do think Harrington has a bad reputation. Well, maybe not a bad reputation but a reputation of being a party house.”
The residence has had its issues over the years in addition to last month’s party.
In 2009, a male resident under the influence of alcohol broke two window panes and punctured several walls and ceiling tiles with his fist.
That same year, a student fell out of a second storey window during a game of sticker tag.
University of New Brunswick student Jonathan Daley was at the Oct. 15 party and says both he and his girlfriend were punched in the face.
At 10:30 p.m., the party ended and students were sent back to their rooms.
Daley was a signed-in guest and this wasn’t the first Harrington party he has attended.
Little can be done to prevent incidents like this, he said.
“It really comes down to the individual person who does something like this. More emphasis should be on people being reasonable, rather than irrational,” he said.
Residence manager Clayton Beaton said events like these are rare in STU residences and that the number of reports are lower than this time last year.
He also said residence life takes extra precautions for certain events.
“Every weekend there is a residence life office staff member as well as one of our six residence coordinators on call. UNB Security and Campus
Police are also notified of house events before they take place.”
Incidents like the fight are often isolated and get blown out of proportion, Gaudet said.
“I don’t think the overexposure of what happened helps. It drives home the negative aspect of what a residence can be.”
Current house president Caitlin Doiron said even though Harrington has a strong sense of pride and community, there is always room for improvement.
“Something can always be changed for the better,” she said. “I don’t necessarily think that Harrington had a bad reputation, but I think that now it’s getting better.”
Doiron’s vision is to promote a more positive side of Harrington that shows how involved residents are both on and off campus.
“People are always going to focus on the negative and now we just have to show them the good things.”
Doiron also says every residence is known for something and that Harrington shouldn’t be seen in a negative light.
“You hear things about Chatham, you hear things about Vanier, you hear things about Rigby, about Holy Cross.
“You’re going to hear bad and good things about any place you go.”
With files from MacKenzie Riley.
